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The tale of melon city

1.
Presented By:
Poorva Maheshwari
Class-XI Comm.

2.
About Author
 Vikram Seth was born on June 20, 1952 at Kolkata Vikram Seth‟s
childhood was spent in the town of Batanagar near Calcutta, Patna
and London. Vikram Seth did his schooling from The Doon School In
Dehradun.
 Vikram Seth is an accomplished poet. His works in poetry include
„Mappings‟(1980), „The Humble Administrator‟s
Garden‟(1985), which was a winner of the Commonwealth Poetry
prize(Asia), and „All You Who Sleep Tonight‟(1990). Vikram Seth
has written a story book for children „Beastly Tales From Here And
There‟(1992), which consists of ten stories about animals told in verse.
Vikram Seth‟s latest work “Two Lives” (2005).

3.
(After Idries Shah)
 Idries Shah (16 June 1924–23
November 1996), also Sayyid Idris alHashimi an author in the Sufist
tradition.
 Maintained spiritual teachings should
be presented in forms and terms
familiar in the community where they
are to take root.
 Used stories and humor to great
effect.

4.
About the poem.
 „The Tale of Melon City‟ runs like a folk tale. The city is called
Melon City because its ruler is a melon. There is a curious tale
about it. Once a fair and easygoing king ruled over a state. He
got an arch built across the thoroughfare. As he passed under the
low arch it struck his head and he lost his crown.

5.
 He thought it a disgrace and ordered the chief of builders to be
hanged. The chief lay the blame on the workmen. The workmen were
surprised. They said that the bricks were made of wrong size. So
the masons were thought guilty. The masons shifted the blame on
the architect. The architect put the blame at the king‟s door as he
amended his original plan.

6.
 The king sought a wise man‟s counsel. He held the arch guilty and
ordered it to be hanged. A councillor objected to it as it had
touched the king‟s head. The people became restless. They wanted
to see someone hanging. Only the king‟s head could fit the noose.
So he was hanged. It was now announced that the next man who
passed
 The city gate would choose the king. An idiot came. He suggested
„A Melon‟. So melon was crowned the king. He was taken to
throne. He was called melon king.

8.
Poem
In the city of which I sing
There was a just and placid King.
The King proclaimed an arch should be
Constructed, that triumphally
Would span the major thoroughfare
To edify spectators there.
The workmen went and built the thing.
They did so since he was the King.
The King rode down the thoroughfare
To edify spectators there.

9.
Under the arch he lost his crown.
The arch was built too low. A frown
Appeared upon his placid face.
The King said, This is a disgrace.
The chief of builders will be hanged.'
The rope and gallows were arranged

10.
The chief of builders was led out.
He passed the King. He gave a shout,
‘O King, it was the workmen's fault'
'Oh!' said the King, and called a halt
To the proceedings. Being just
(And placider now) he said, 'I must
Have all the workmen hanged instead.‘
The workmen looked surprised, and said,

11.
O King, you do not realise
The bricks were made of the wrong size.‘
'Summon the masons!’ said the King
The masons stood there quivering.
'It was the architect...', they said,
The architect was summoned

12.
'Well, architect,' said His Majesty.
'I do ordain that you shall be
Hanged.' Said the architect, 'O King,
You have forgotten one small thing.
You made certain amendments to
The plans when I showed them to you.’

13.
The King heard this. The King saw red.
In fact he nearly lost his head;
But being a just and placid King
He said, This is a tricky thing.
I need some counsel. Bring to me
The wisest man in this country.'

14.
The wisest man was found and brought,
Nay, carried, to the Royal Court.
He could not walk and could not see,
So old (and therefore wise) was he –
But in a quavering voice he said,
'The culprit must be punished.

15.
Truly. the arch it was that banged (hit)
The crown off, and it must be hanged'.
To the scaffold the arch was led
When suddenly a Councillor said –
'How can we hang so shamefully
What touched your head, Your Majesty?‘
‘True,’ mused the King. By now the crowd,
Restless, was muttering aloud

16.
The King perceived their mood and trembled
And said to all who were assembled –
'Let us postpone consideration
Of finer points like guilt. The nation
Wants a hanging. Hanged must be
Someone, and that immediately.
The noose (rope/loop)was set up somewhat high.
Each man was measured by and by.

17.
But only one man was so tall
He fitted. One man. That was all.
He was the King. His Majesty
Was therefore hanged by Royal Decree.
'Thank Goodness we found someone,' said
The Ministers, 'for if instead
We had not, the unruly town
Might well have turned against the Crown
'Long live the King!' the Ministers said.
'Long live the King! The King is dead.'

18.
They pondered the dilemma; then,
Being practical-minded men,
Sent out the heralds to proclaim
(In His [former] Majesty's name):
The next to pass the City Gate
Will choose the ruler of our state,
As is our custom. This will be
Enforced with due ceremony.'

19.
A man passed by the City Gate.
An idiot. The guards cried, 'Wait!
Who is to be the King? Decide!'
'A melon,' the idiot replied.
This was his standard answer to
All questions. (He liked melons.) 'You
Are now our King,' the Ministers said,
Crowning a melon. Then they led
(Carried)the Melon to the throne
And reverently set it down.

20.
This happened years and years ago.
When now you ask the people, 'So –
Your King appears to be a melon.
How did this happen?' they say, Well, on
Account of customary choice.
If His Majesty rejoice
In being a melon, that's OK
With us, for who are we to say
What he should be as long as he
Leaves us in Peace and Liberty?‘
The principles of laissez faire
Seem to be well-established there.